May arrives and migration ends

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Gray Catbird and contopus flycatchers seem to be the last of this year’s migrants here on the Turrialba Volcano slope. I have been keeping careful records for some 10 years now and I find that as the month of May arrives northern migrant sightings are very scarce.

Common but beautiful: the male Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula); photo by John Beer, taken in nearby Santa Rosa de Turrialba

Not so common, but still easily found here: A male Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) photographed by Larry Waddell a little higher up the mountain slope at Calle Vargas

The following table shows latest departure dates for San Antonio’s commonest northern migrants since 2009, compared with this year’s departures. My data are too sparse to be meaningful for the many other migrants that visit our area.

Barn Swallow May 10 April 28, 2017

Olive-sided Flycatcher May 1 April 25, 2017

Western Wood-Pewee May 9 May 6, 2017

Swainson’s Thrush April 18 April 1, 2017

Yellow-throated Vireo April 23 April 13, 2017

Philadelphia Vireo April 15 March 24, 2017

Red-eyed Vireo May 9 March 25, 2017

Golden-winged Warbler April 18 April 8, 2017

Black-and-white Warbler April 19 March 24, 2017

Tennessee Warbler May 5 April 21, 2017

Yellow Warbler May 12 April 26, 2017

Mourning Warbler April 24 April 15, 2017

Chestnut-sided Warbler April 19 April 17, 2017

Black-throated Green Warbler April 26 April 15, 2017

Wilson’s Warbler April 11 April 17, 2017*

Rose-breasted Grosbeak April 10 March 12, 2017

Summer Tanager April 23 April 9, 2017

Baltimore Oriole April 25 April 21, 2017

= New late date

Today is May 8. Let’s see if anything else shows up in the coming weeks.